Snap switch



F. DEHL SNAP SWITCH Oct. 7, 1930.

Filed March 22, 1928 INVENTOR Friede/'ick Bie/Ll ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE FREI):ERICH DIEEL, F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNOR- T0 DIEHL MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY. A CQRPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY SNAP SWITCH .Application tiled lai-ch 22, 1928. Serial No. 283,889.

This invention relates to snap-switches for making and breaking electrical circuits. It has for an object to provide a switch-construction having a variable number of poles and readily adaptable for the cont-rol of vanous circuits. vention is to provide a switch which is of simple construction and which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

The objects of the invention are attained by providing a unit switch-section, preferably of molded construction, such that one or more of such sections may-be assembled with a. cover-section, innested relation, to form a switch of the desired number of poles. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a single-section switch embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a three-section switch. Figs. 2o 3 and 4 are top and bottom face views of a unit switch-section. Fig. 5`is a sectional view of the switch shown in Fig. the switch-section being cut on the line 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a similar view with the switch-section cut on the line 6-6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a section view similar to Fi 5 but showing a plurality of assembled switch units to form a multi-pole switch. Figs. 8 and 9 are top and bottom face views of the 3o cover-section with the key removed. Fig. 10is a top view of the lrotary central member of the unit switch-section. Figs..11 and. 12 are top and reverse face views ofthe switchindicator, and Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the rotary element of the unit switch- -section.

l In the preferred embodiment of the ili-` vention illustrated, 1 represents a .unit switch-section and 2 the coversecton lin .which is journaled, in the metal bearinginsert 3, the shaft 4 of the key-member 5.

The unit switch-section 1 com rises a casing in the form of a flat disk having a cavity formed with an internal wall of the well known ratchet-tooth construction; such teeth being faced with the stationary contactstrips 6 connected to the contact. terminal lugs 7, one diametrically opposedl pair` of which are tapped at their outer ends to receive the terminal-screws 8.

A further object of the in- Journaled in the casing 1 is the rotary member 9 formed with a diametrically disposed slideway 10 for a movable contactmember including the contact-elements 11 connected together by a pig-tail 12 and urged ,apart by the coilfls ring 13.

2 The casing 1 iskl prmedin. its bottom face with a circular 14 and at its top face with a circularprojection 15 whereby a plurality of switch-sections may be nested together and centered relatively lto one another; the projection 15 'of one switch-section entering the recess 14` of an' adjoining switch- The rotary member 9 is vformed at its top vwith a central Yprojection 19 ofthe same d1- ameter and 4length as the projection 18, The rojection 19 is adapted to enter eitherithe earing hole 17 of an adjoiningUswitch-sec- ,tion or the bearing hole 20, Fig. 5, in the cover-'section 2. Thus each rota Amember 9 of the complete switch has bearing supports at its opposite `ends. j

The upper end of the rotary member 9 is formed with a rect ar projection 21 and the bottom end of t e notary member 9 is formed with a rectangul A mechanically out of phase withthe rectangular projection 21, as shown in Fig. 10. The inner end ofthe switch-ke .shaft 4 is formed likethe bottom end o the rotary member 9 with a recess 23 to receivezthe projection 21 of the adjoining rotary member 9; the projection 21 and recesses 22, 23 consti tuting interengaging means for coupling one or lmore rotary members 9 together and to the switch-key A 5.` Due to the vmechanica] phase displacement ofthe'coupling means at theopposite ends of the rotary members 9,

ar recess 22 which is.

such members when assembled, will have their contact; elements dis osed transversely to one another, thereby wid)ely separating the current carrying switch-terminals of' adjoining switch-sections.

The switch is provided with an indicator `disk 24 having a central aperture 25 with its periphery under-,cut at 26 to fit over the rotar member 9. The aperture is peripherallyV notched at 27 to receive the metal insert 28 carriedby the rotary member 9 and serving to lock the indicator to the rotary switch elements. A Window 29 is provided inthe cover-section 2 through which the indicatormay be viewed.

The terminal screws 8 are housed in peripheral recesses A30 in the switch-sections and the-walls of such recesses are dovetailed to receive the cover-slides 30 or 31, the short cover-slides being used with a single-pole switch and other and longer `cover-slides'being used with the multi-pole switches.

'The elements ofv the i switch lare held together by bolts 32. Screws 33 may be passed through registering holes in the switchisecA tions and cover to secure the switch to a support. c

From the foregoing description it/will be evident that one unitlswitch-section 1 may be assembled withy a cover-section 2 to form,

a single-pole switch, suchuas'shown-in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. Two or more' unit switch-sections 1 may be assembled with a cover-section to form a multi-pole switch, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 7 Thus, only a small variety of parts need be' manufactured-for assembly into a variety of switches for various uses in the trade. The cover and casing sections 2 and 1, as well as the rotary member 9, vare preferably moldedfrom aphenolic condensation or other heat-resistinginsulation' product, with the metal inserts molded-in their respective positions.l *l

Having .thus set "forthvthe nature of the invention, wh I claim.herein`is: v`

1. A snap-switch 'comprising a coverysetion and a unit switchrsection, said swltchsection including a .casing and arotary member journaled lin said casing, stationaryjconf tacts carried by said casing, a Amovable contact carried by `said rotary member, and a switch-key journaled -in said 'cover-section,

the bottom endf of said switch-key and the s top end of said rotaryA memberfhaving inter- Y engaging means; for coupling vthem together switch-section, the bottom end .ofsaid rota member being formed like the bottom .end of sid-switchfkey, whereby anyln'uinber of .unit

switch-sections may 1 assembled with a cover-section with -therota A' members coupled together and to the 'switch-key.

gaging means forfrelativelyA centering such sections, the bottom of said switch-sectlon being formed like the bottom of the cover-section, whereby any number of unit switchsections may 'be assembled with and centered relative to one another and to the cover-section with the rotary members coupled together and to the switchkey.-

' 3. A snap-switch comprising a casing, a rotary member .journaled insaid casing, make-andbreakcontacts carried by said casing and rotary member, the lower end of said rotary member being eiposed at the bottom of said casing and havlng coxpling means Y adapting it for connection with the rotaryV member of an adjoining snap-switch.

4. A switch comprising a support, stationary contacts carried 'by said support, a movable contact journaled in said support, said support being so formed asto permit a plu-` .rality of such supports Vto be assembled in adjoiningrelation with the movable contacts operatlvely coupled together inelectrically insulated relation 5. A snap-switch comprising a cover-section and a Aunit switch-section, a key-journaled in the Vcover-sectionl and having coupling means exposed at the under sideof said. cover-section, said unit switch-sectionhaving an external recess, a stationary contact l carried by said unit-'switchsectio'n and hav-v ing a terminal screw disposed in said` recess, A

a movable contact journaled in said unit switch-section and having cou ling means exposed at its top and bottom s i es, and a cover slide closing said recess. Y y Y In vtestimony whereof, I have-signed my name to this spcification. FREDERICK DIEHL.

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